Source: 49ers place Bethea on IR, activate Simpson

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SANTA CLARA –- The 49ers on Friday placed veteran safety Antoine Bethea on season-ending injured reserve to make room for wide receiver Jerome Simpson on the team’s 53-man roster, a source told CSNBayArea.com.

Bethea, a 10-year veteran, sustained what the team initially announced as a shoulder injury late in the second quarter of the 49ers’ 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. The injury occurred when he reached out with his right arm to attempt to tackle wide receiver Doug Baldwin. Bethea underwent an MRI examination on Friday morning at Stanford Hospital.

The 49ers signed Bethea as a free agent in 2014, and he prompted established himself on the team as the winner of the Bill Walsh Award as the team’s MVP. He recorded four interceptions and was also named to his third Pro Bowl. He was chosen as one of the 49ers’ nine team captains this season.

Rookie Jaquiski Tartt took over for Bethea in the second half of Thursday’s game.

[RATTO: Bad 49ers never competitive, lack any workable foundation]

Meanwhile, Simpson is now added to the 49ers’ roster, joining Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington and rookie DeAndrew White.

The NFL in August announced a six-game suspension for Simpson for a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was allowed to attend meetings and take part in workouts during his suspension. However, he was not allowed to practice.

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The league this week granted the 49ers a one-game roster exemption, giving the 49ers the option of waiting until Friday at 1 p.m. to make a decision whether to add Simpson to the 53-man roster or release him.

Simpson, 29, a six-year NFL veteran, was eligible to begin practice with the 49ers on Monday after serving his suspension.

The 49ers signed Simpson to a two-year contract in in March with the full knowledge he might not be available for the beginning of the regular season due to a likely suspension, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said.

Simpson did not play last season after the Minnesota Vikings released him in September as he finished a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse as a repeat offender. In 2013 while with the Vikings, he caught 48 passes for a career-high 726 yards (15.1 average) and one touchdown.

It was the second suspension of his NFL career. Simpson pleaded guilty to a felony charge resulting from two pounds of marijuana being shipped to his home in Kentucky in September 2011 while he was with the Cincinnati Bengals.

He was arrested for suspicion of DWI in November 2013. Simpson was also cited in July 2014 on charges of marijuana possession, open container and violating the conditions of his limited drivers license.

Simpson caught three passes for 40 yards during the 49ers’ exhibition season this summer.

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